flora
Flora’s heart sinks at Koa’s admission, the bitter ache in his voice piercing through her own frustrations. But it's when he mentions Noe that her breath hitches sharply, a fresh pang slicing through her chest, swift and deep. "Wait—Noe?" she echoes softly, eyes wide with sudden distress. She twists slightly, curls tumbling as she peers around the roots toward him, worry pinching tight between her brows. "Gods, Koa, I'm—I'm so sorry."
Her fingers tighten around a handful of moss, gripping it like she might unravel without something tangible to hold onto. She remembers clearly that night in Torchline during LongNight, Noe’s laughter brightening the darkness. She remembers how much family means to Koa, how fiercely he'd fight for them.
Which means he's probably tearing himself apart.
"I know how you feel." Her throat tightens painfully with the admission, and she shakes her head sharply, eyes stinging with the threat of new tears. Because while Torchline hadn't been taken over by the Family, all of their efforts had seemingly been for nothing given how easily it was for those Flora cared about to be infected anyway."Look, maybe it's incredibly stupid—" She exhales roughly, forcing back the ache as her voice firms, gaining a defiant edge. "—but I think I have a plan. I’m so tired of just waiting around for the demigods to decide how to handle everything. Clearly, that's not working. And I'm sick of watching everyone get hurt." Not to mention she was sick of being treated like her ideas were always secondary to theirs.
Her fingers tighten around a handful of moss, gripping it like she might unravel without something tangible to hold onto. She remembers clearly that night in Torchline during LongNight, Noe’s laughter brightening the darkness. She remembers how much family means to Koa, how fiercely he'd fight for them.
Which means he's probably tearing himself apart.
"I know how you feel." Her throat tightens painfully with the admission, and she shakes her head sharply, eyes stinging with the threat of new tears. Because while Torchline hadn't been taken over by the Family, all of their efforts had seemingly been for nothing given how easily it was for those Flora cared about to be infected anyway."Look, maybe it's incredibly stupid—" She exhales roughly, forcing back the ache as her voice firms, gaining a defiant edge. "—but I think I have a plan. I’m so tired of just waiting around for the demigods to decide how to handle everything. Clearly, that's not working. And I'm sick of watching everyone get hurt." Not to mention she was sick of being treated like her ideas were always secondary to theirs.
How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22?
Will you still want me when I'm nothing new?
Will you still want me when I'm nothing new?
